Contemporary
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Many stories have been written about the sixties, the decade of the Moon Race, and this literary novel, serious at its core but whimsical in its prose, takes a unique look at the fate of the moon during that decade.
Samuel Thwaite is looking for a place to put his stamp on. He chooses Goodmews, a laid-back American town known for its bright moon, and persuades the residents to let him establish the world’s first Moon Centre.
NASA funds the Centre, and while Goodmews thrives, Thwaite becomes obsessed with achieving something grander, that will last forever. He enlists a rogue NASA engineer, and together they develop a plan. They will use a moon rocket to spread paint over a giant crater so the moon will no longer look white.
By chance, Banno, the Moon Centre guard, discovers the plan. He knows he should tell someone, but he has signed NASA’s oath of secrecy, and prides himself on keeping his word.
Here's what readers have to say about this book....
EACH CHAPTER WAS THE RIGHT LENGTH. April 2024. In all honesty I did not find this book for me, however it could be for others so don't let my opinion sway anyone on giving this book a go. I did find the whole story overall very quirky and unique which is what drew me in to try it. I love that this author had an idea that was unusual and one I have not seen before and went for it. I fully enjoyed that each chapter was the right length which made reading so much easier and made the story easier to follow.
A NOVEL DESIGNED SO THE READER TAKES THEIR TIME. When the Moon was White is a literary novel about a Mr Sam Thwaite who arrives in a small American town with grand plans to make himself a little empire starting with a Moon Centre. This novel contains lots of descriptive text giving you a good feel for the characters, time period (space race time) and setting. This is a slow paced novel designed so that the reader takes their time absorbing the descriptions and the storyline.
GENTLE BUT COMPELLING. April 2024. Reviewed on Amazon UK. This is a gentle but compelling novel about the moon and the Sixties, a curious tale set in a small American town, where a man who prides himself on his honesty discovers a secret plan to paint the moon before humans reach there. The author describes the inner worlds of his characters in a lyrical way, but contrasts this with the real world they must engage with. Everything takes place in Goodmews, a town of 500 that houses the world’s first moon centre, where quotes about the moon and lyrics to moon songs are displayed. There is also a moon church, where the colour that will be secretly sent to the moon is invented. This strange tale may skirt the border of science fiction. But it is firmly set in the Sixties and features many of that decade’s songs, and while the plot may sound crazy to some, it sounds plausible to me. I recommend this book. It’s a fascinating read.
A SMOOTH READ THAT TRANSPORTS YOU BACK IN TIME. March 2024. Jeff Probst wrote a neat 1960s themed novel. This book pays homage to the moon and is set in a tiny American town, Goodmews. Samuel Thwaite has his sights set on the moon and has recruited the town and then recruited NASA to build the moon center. Jeff shows his research and care he took when writing this book because it just reads so smoothly. He includes all of the classic songs of the era and just transports you back in time. If you like historical fiction/sci fi type books, I would highly recommend this book for you.
A GOOD READ. February 2024. Reviewed on Amazon UK. This was a good read. Different. I loved the cover. I liked the story and plot. I haven't read anything like this before so the story was new to me. I did like the characters and how they were in the story. It was very well written. The author put in a lot of work and I felt it as I read it. It did have its charm. This was a unique book for me.
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